Seville or Malaga? Short break

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I have the option to do a short break in either Seville or Malaga in February. Will just be me and DP, wanting a rest from work and to sample delicious food. Seville is coming in slightly cheaper for a better standard of accommodation, but both options are good value.
I don’t mind that Seville isn’t by the sea, but DP does like to be near the coast. Aware it won’t be beach weather, but he likes to ‘see’ the sea! We could hire a car if staying in Seville and drive to thw coast anyway.
I think I’ll prefer Seville from what I’ve read, but it’s a close call.
Would love to hear from anyone who has visited these places - especially if you’ve been to both - and perhaps about the things you didn’t like. I know that sounds odd, but I’ve read so many positives maybe I need to be aware of some negatives. Not too many though 😄

Spent a week in Seville last summer and LOVED it! So much to do, quite chilled, reasonably cheap. It surpassed our expectations

I have been to both and for February I would choose Malaga.

Picaso museum, Roman amphitheatre, Cathedral, Moorish castle, Art museum all great.

Food market, have a few restaurant recommendations and great hotel with rooftop bar overlooking the cathedral at night (was open in March, unsure about Feb), lovely patisseries and good coffee in central location with decent shopping.

I’ve been to both and have spent time on both the Costa del sol and costa de la luz.

I love both but for different reasons! Seville feels more Spanish akin to Madrid. Whereas Malaga has a more cosmopolitan vibe, sort of like Barcelona. Out of the 2 coasts the Costa de la luz wins it for me. That region has more Spanish holidaymakers. You can also do the sherry tours in Xerez.

Honestly, in either you’ll have a fab time.

Seville for sure at that time of year. I like both cities but that is a great time to visit. The lovely beach at Matascañas is quite a way away though so hiring a car is the way to go for that. Should be cheap though on the upside.

I love Malaga, it's one of my favourite cities.

I really like both cities, how long would you be going for?

Seville - gorgeous architecture, good value for money, top notch food at reasonable prices, buzzy atmosphere, interesting history with the palace and the cathedral, some fantastic hotels for decent prices. Can easily do a day trip to Jerez or Cádiz.

Cons - can be very busy with tourists (probably not a concern in February), flight choices can be fewer, on local holidays it can be very busy and difficult on transport, there can be a pickpocketing problem, it’s a horrible city to drive in, it’s a bit more necessary to have some Spanish to get by in the less touristy bits.

Malaga - beaches right in the city, good museums and art galleries, Roman history, nice bars, good food (especially fish / seafood), usually lots of choice of flights from many airports, usually fewer tourists in the actual city itself.

Cons - not so good value for money for hotels or food, less to do and see than many of the big Spanish cities so not great for more than a couple of days of sightseeing, the beaches are nice and perfectly pleasant but not stunningly so, if that makes any sense, it can be very windy and therefore quite chilly in the Winter.

Thanks everyone. You’re not making it any easier for me 😂 but lots of useful information here.

For some reason, I though that Malaga was a bit ‘Brits abroad’ but that hasn’t come up in anything I’ve read or in your comments here so must be a misconception I’ve picked up.
@cherryassam That’s interesting about the pickpockets as that was something I was concerned about in Malaga but hadn’t thought about in Seville.

Keep the comments coming or I might just have to toss a coin/Euro.

Not at all Brits abroad, no. It's really lovely, with some fabulous restaurants and bars.

If you can drive and have a hire car you could do both.

They're both lovely cities and well worth spending a weekend in, but I reckon Seville might be a bit warmer in Feb, being inland. Malaga isn't at all Brits abroad - it's an authentic Spanish city with lots of interesting stuff to do (but then so is Seville!). Honestly, I'm not sure which I'd pick if I hadn't been to either.

Malaga definitely isn’t Brits abroad, I think the misconception comes from the fact you fly into Malaga airport to get to some more Brits-abroad type places along the Costa del Sol.

There may be pickpockets in Malaga too, but it’s never really felt packed enough with tourists to feel like it might be a problem in the same way as it could sometimes feel in Seville.

There is something about the atmosphere in Seville which isn’t quite there in Malaga in the same way, in my opinion. Although I do think it depends if you’d be interested in long, late dinners, flamenco shows, bars etc., as that was a big part of the atmosphere for me in Seville. I would also say it’s a city with a bit more character architecturally.

If you’ve got long enough you could do both, or do Granada - not that I want to throw another spanner in your decision works.

To be honest, if I was going for a short break to just one and had no strong feel either way, I’d probably go by the flight times / prices from my preferred UK airports.

I absolutely love Seville; but it doesn't sound like what your partner is after.

Plus, I've been here for 8 weeks so far and it's SO much more expensive than it usually is. Prices have skyrocketed. I've come annually for nearly 10 years now and it's never been this expensive - but it's also a lot more touristy, which I hadn't expected, I'd thought Star Wars and Game of Thrones would have bought the peaks. Some of the lovely Spanish places are now Five Guys, and that kind of thing; but I guess that happens everywhere. With that there is now a lot more crime; pick pockets and women forcing thyme into your hand and predicting your future for a fee - but it's all avoidable if you're smart.

Malaga I've been too far less; but it is lovely.

If going to the coast is an essential for your DP, I'd go to Malaga. Driving in Seville is hardcore.

I consider myself very well travelled 😀and I absolutely HATED Seville. I did not like it one bit. I started in Malaga and wish I'd just stayed there. It was out of season too. I cannot say enough bad things about the place and I was desperate to go there! It was claustrophobic and just didn't have a nice vibe. Such a shame and a waste of a much needed break.

Malaga is lovely, has everything you need, and is very Spanish.

Never been to Seville but Malaga is one of my absolute favourite places. It’s just lovely and SO not brits abroad. Go there!

Omg I love Seville. It is an incredible city. Málaga has tonnes to see and do. Both have. But Seville has a real pull on me.

I really liked both but the beach in Malaga is nothing to write home about. From what you’ve said I’d plump for Seville.

This is the beach in Malaga (aka Malagueta) in Feb. It's not the loveliest beach, unfortunately, but you don't go to the beach in Feb.

I've stayed in Malaga and visited Seville whilst there, I would do it that way again to be honest as Malaga was such a surprisingly nice, chilled place with lots to see and do even in poor weather. I only went to Seville for one long day and to be honest I felt I'd seen all I wanted to of it and although I'd do a day trip again, I didn't feel compelled to go and stay there.

For what it's worth it's really easy and fairly priced to get the train between them, or at least it was, so you might not need a car. Far more choice of flights into Malaga too (don't get a taxi, use the airport bus into Malaga itself, it's really easy).

I've been to both. In Feb I'd go to Malaga. It was shorts weather.

I love Malaga and think it is hugely underrated.

Also going to this area and contemplating Granada as well. How easy it is to train it? Want to avoid expensive polluting hire cars

How long are you going for ? You could get a train and visit one from the other (more relaxing then driving )

Thanks everyone. I’ve gone with Malaga - this time! But already have my accommodation plans saved for Seville at another point once I can fit another break in around work. Your input has been very useful!

@ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea we will be there for six nights so a train visit is something I could look into. Thanks

When I went it was a bit harder to get to Grenada (Seville was a doddle, Cordoba was easy on paper as well but I never got round to going on that trip) from Málaga by train, it was definitely possible though and it was a few years back so timetable may well be better, the RENFE website isn't too bad to use to get an idea.